Lawyer's £2,000 working lunch
A solicitor enjoyed a lavish meal and then sent a bill for £2,000 to his client, claiming it was a work meeting, a tribunal heard yesterday.
David Hayes charged a football club for the meal in Mayfair and £1,625 in legal fees, travel from Coventry and his hotel bill.
The 53-year-old ran up a £230 bill after a four-hour lunch with two business associates.
He was celebrating the payment of more than £100,000 for legal work done for Darlington FC director Michael Peden, it was claimed.
The solicitor's tribunal heard Mr Peden, who was not at the lunch, later discovered the invoice and complained to the Law Society.
Hayes, who is attending the hearing, denies overcharging and misleading a client. He claims the meal was a business meeting to discuss work matters.
Stephen Battersby, for the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors, said: 'What is in dispute was the purpose of the meeting in November 1998 and what happened there. We have a stark difference in evidence.
'The Law Society says this was not a business meeting and therefore it wasn't something Mr Hayes was entitled to charge for.
'My two witnesses say it was a celebratory lunch to mark the fact bills owed to the three of them had been paid by Mr Peden.
'On the other hand, what Mr Hayes says is: "It was a business meeting. I was working. I did not consume a great deal of alcohol. Business was discussed. I therefore feel justified in charging".'
The hearing continues.
